Photocatalyst filter and electronic device comprising the same

Abstract

According to various embodiments of the present disclosure, a photocatalyst filter can be provided, including a substrate including an internal space through which a fluid can pass, a plurality of photocatalyst beads provided within the internal space, and an opening / closing portion connected to the substrate and opened or closed according to a flow of the fluid, wherein a reflection plate is formed on one side of the opening / closing portion for reflecting light when the opening / closing portion is closed, thereby increasing an amount of light reaching the beads. There can be other various embodiments of the photocatalyst filter of the present disclosure and electronic devices including the same.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] Various embodiments of this disclosure relate to photocatalyst filters and electronic devices including such photocatalyst filters. Background Technology

[0002] Due to various factors, such as atmospheric degradation caused by high concentrations of fine dust and / or yellow dust, and infectious diseases including bacteria and viruses, maintaining the hygiene and cleanliness of indoor spaces has become more important.

[0003] Therefore, with the increasing demand for air purification devices (e.g., air purifiers) for purifying indoor air, various types of air purification devices have been introduced.

[0004] Meanwhile, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted from furniture, decor, and building materials in indoor spaces can be a problem. VOCs can reduce indoor air quality and lead to health problems such as headaches, allergies, and nausea.

[0005] To remove these volatile organic compounds, air purification devices including adsorption and deodorization filters containing activated carbon have been disclosed.

[0006] However, due to the desorption of adsorbed odor gases and the proliferation of adsorbed harmful microorganisms, adsorbent deodorizing filters have poor durability and produce odors.

[0007] To overcome these limitations, air purification devices that utilize photocatalytic degradation filters (hereinafter referred to as "photocatalytic filters") have been disclosed.

[0008] Photocatalyst filters can completely decompose volatile organic compounds (VOCs) into harmless carbon dioxide and water, and can also effectively remove bacteria or microorganisms when using ultraviolet light. For example, photocatalyst filters can use materials including photocatalysts such as titanium dioxide (TiO2). When exposed to ultraviolet light, titanium dioxide generates free radicals (e.g., OH). The strong oxidizing power of these free radicals can kill microorganisms and decompose odor-producing substances.

[0009] Photocatalyst materials can be used to decompose pollutants adsorbed in filters using a light source, thus allowing for semi-permanent use. Therefore, this also benefits users by reducing maintenance costs due to filter replacement and simplifying management. Summary of the Invention

[0010] Technical issues

[0011] To use photocatalyst filters containing photocatalyst materials, a light source, such as an LED, should be provided in the air purification device. Providing more light sources can increase the air purification effect, but manufacturing costs and energy consumption will increase accordingly.

[0012] Furthermore, blind spots where the light emitted by the light source cannot reach may form near the edges or back of the photocatalyst filter. In these blind spots, air pollutants remain, leading to a degradation in air purification effectiveness.

[0013] This disclosure provides a photocatalyst filter that can enhance air purification while saving energy, and an electronic device including the same.

[0014] This disclosure provides a photocatalyst filter and an electronic device including the photocatalyst filter, which improves the recycling efficiency and air purification effect of the photocatalyst filter by preventing contaminants from remaining in blind spots.

[0015] Technical solutions

[0016] According to various embodiments of the present disclosure, an electronic device may be provided, comprising: a housing, a photocatalyst filter, at least one sensor disposed in the housing, a blower configured to introduce air into the housing, a light source configured to emit light toward the photocatalyst filter, and a controller configured to control the drive of the blower and the light source, wherein the controller is configured to determine the degree of contamination of the photocatalyst filter based on the difference or rate of change of sensor values ​​between at least one sensor disposed in the housing and at least one other sensor disposed outside the housing, and to regenerate the photocatalyst filter based on the determined degree of contamination.

[0017] According to various embodiments of the present disclosure, a photocatalyst filter may be provided, comprising: a body having an internal space through which fluid passes; a plurality of photocatalyst beads provided in the internal space; and an opening / closing member connected to the body to open or close according to the flow of fluid, wherein a reflector is formed on a surface of the opening / closing member to reflect light when the opening / closing member is closed, thereby increasing the amount of light reaching the plurality of photocatalyst beads.

[0018] Beneficial effects

[0019] By using photocatalyst filters and electronic devices according to various embodiments of the present disclosure, air purification and filter regeneration effects can be enhanced even without increasing the number and amount of light sources, thereby saving manufacturing costs and energy consumption.

[0020] By using photocatalyst filters and electronic devices according to various embodiments of the present disclosure, pollutants can be prevented from remaining in the blind spots of the photocatalyst filter, thereby enhancing air purification and filter regeneration effects.

[0021] According to an embodiment, the electronic device of this disclosure is configured to provide an opening / closing component in the form of a metal foil, and to effectively remove contaminants inside the photocatalyst filter, thereby significantly increasing the filter regeneration effect without significantly increasing manufacturing costs.

[0022] According to various embodiments of this disclosure, hybrid beads are disclosed, comprising a photocatalytic material that decomposes contaminants on a fluid by inducing photocatalytic oxidation and an adsorbent that adsorbs contaminants on the fluid. According to various embodiments of this disclosure, a hybrid air purification device can be provided that overcomes the disadvantages of both decomposition-type and adsorption-type air purification as initial types, wherein decomposition-type purification is slow, and adsorption-type purification fails to adequately remove microorganisms and requires filter replacement.

[0023] According to various embodiments of this disclosure, various methods for determining the regeneration cycle of a photocatalyst filter are proposed, thereby providing the advantage of automatically regenerating the photocatalyst filter.

[0024] The effects of this disclosure are not limited to those described above. Other effects not mentioned below will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the following description. Attached Figure Description

[0025] Figure 1 This is a view illustrating an electronic device according to various embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0026] Figure 2 This is an exploded perspective view showing an electronic device according to various embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0027] Figure 3 This is a perspective view showing electronic devices and external electronic devices according to various embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0028] Figure 4 This is a perspective view showing a photocatalyst filter according to various embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0029] Figure 5 This is a view illustrating examples of how an opening / closing component in a photocatalyst filter according to various embodiments of the present disclosure opens or closes according to the flow of air in the opening / closing component;

[0030] Figure 6 This is a view showing the open state of the open / close component in a photocatalyst filter according to various embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0031] Figure 7 This is a view showing the closed state of the open / close component in a photocatalyst filter according to various embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0032] Figure 8 This is a flowchart illustrating a filter regeneration procedure according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0033] Figure 9 This is a flowchart illustrating a filter regeneration procedure according to another embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0034] Figure 10 This is a flowchart illustrating a filter regeneration procedure according to another embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0035] Figure 11 This is a flowchart illustrating a filter regeneration procedure according to another embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0036] Figure 12 This is a view illustrating a method for improving the regeneration efficiency of a photocatalyst filter using a light source according to an embodiment;

[0037] Figure 13 It is shown that the basis is different Figure 12 A view of an implementation of a method for improving the regeneration efficiency of a photocatalyst filter using a light source;

[0038] Figure 14 It is shown that the basis is different Figure 12 A view of another embodiment of a method for improving the regeneration efficiency of a photocatalyst filter using a light source;

[0039] Figure 15 It is shown that the basis is different Figure 12 A view of another embodiment of a method for improving the regeneration efficiency of a photocatalyst filter using a light source;

[0040] Figure 16 This is a view showing an example of air flowing through at least one unit of a photocatalyst filter in the forward direction F or the reverse direction RF;

[0041] Figure 17 This is a view showing an example of air particles being adsorbed onto beads as air flows in a forward direction F;

[0042] Figure 18 This is a view showing an example of air particles being adsorbed onto beads when air flows in the opposite direction (RF).

[0043] Figure 19 This is a view illustrating examples of multiple sub-filters included in a photocatalyst filter being exchanged according to various embodiments of the present disclosure; and

[0044] Figure 20 This is a view showing the degassing efficiency of a photocatalyst filter per cycle according to various embodiments of the present disclosure. Detailed Implementation

[0045] Embodiments of this disclosure are provided to fully explain this disclosure to those skilled in the art, and various modifications may be made thereto, and the scope of the invention is not limited thereto. Embodiments of this disclosure are provided to fully and thoroughly convey the spirit of the invention to those skilled in the art.

[0046] As used herein, for ease of description or clarity, the thickness and dimensions of each layer may be enlarged or reduced. Throughout the specification and drawings, the same reference numerals may be used to refer to the same or substantially the same elements. As used herein, the term "A and / or B" includes either A or B, or one or more combinations thereof.

[0047] Figure 1 This is a view showing the electronic device 10 according to an embodiment.

[0048] According to various embodiments of this disclosure, electronic device 10 may correspond to an air purification device (or air conditioner). An air purification device can refer to any device installed in a home or office to purify the air. An air purification device may be a device incorporating a blower fan for collecting dust floating in the air or removing gases. An air purification device may be a device for regulating the temperature and humidity of indoor air. For example, an air purification device may be implemented as an air purifier, air conditioner, or humidifier. Alternatively, an air purification device may be implemented as an air purification component provided in refrigerators, kimchi refrigerators, washing machines, dryers, garment care devices, shoe cabinets, closets, septic tanks, air conditioning systems, etc. An air purification device may include examples of various devices for purifying and deodorizing indoor air.

[0049] The electronic device 10 may include a housing 11 that forms an internal space and an external appearance, an inlet 12 formed on one side of the housing 11 to introduce air, outlets 13a and 13b for discharging purified air introduced into the housing 11, an input unit 14 for inputting user commands, and display units 15 and 115 for displaying the operating status of the air purifier 10.

[0050] The housing 11 may include a body 11a, a front cover 11b that can be attached to the body 11a, and a top cover 11c. Some of the aforementioned components may be omitted, or one or more other components may be further added to the housing 11. Figure 1 The diagram shows a configuration where the main body 11a is separated from the front cover 11b and the upper cover 11c, but it can also be integrally formed in other ways. Various other embodiments are also applicable.

[0051] The number and location of inlets 12 and outlets 13a and 13b are not limited to any particular implementation. Figure 1 The diagram shows an inlet 12 formed in the front cover 11b of the housing 11, and a first outlet 13a and a second outlet 13b formed in the front cover 11b and the top cover 11c, respectively. However, the embodiments are not limited to this.

[0052] The input unit 14 may include a power button for turning the electronic device 10 on or off, a timer button for setting the operating time of the air purifier 10, and a lock button for limiting the operation of the input unit to prevent erroneous operation. It may also include buttons for inputting various control information of the electronic device 10. In this case, the input unit 14 may be a push-button type that generates an input signal by user pressing, or a touch switch type that generates an input signal by touch of a user's body. If the input unit 14 is a touch switch type, it may be integrated with the display unit 15.

[0053] Display units 15 and 115 can display information about the status of electronic device 10. For example, the display units can display information about the contamination level of photocatalyst filter 240, information about the replacement time of photocatalyst filter 240, information about the filling rate of beads 300 in photocatalyst filter 240 (e.g., information about the number of beads filled, the filling rate each time, or whether filling is required), information about the status of photocatalyst filter 240 (e.g., information about the number of days used since filling the photocatalyst beads or the cumulative time), and information about the currently ongoing activity (e.g., information about whether it is an air quality sensing step or a filtration step, and information about the airflow direction). Information can be provided for multiple spaces in photocatalyst filter 240. This information can be provided by display units 15 and 115, and according to another embodiment, it can be provided from an external device (e.g., a smartphone communicating with electronic device 10). Display units 15 and 115 can be positioned on housing 11 in any location easily visible to the user. Figure 1 In this embodiment, display unit 15 is disposed on the upper cover 11c and display unit 115 is disposed on the main body 11a, but this embodiment is not limited thereto. According to the embodiment, the user interface (UI) including the above information can be displayed on the display unit 15 of the electronic device 10 or on an external device.

[0054] Figure 2 This is an exploded perspective view showing an electronic device 10 according to various embodiments of the present disclosure. Figure 3This is a perspective view showing an electronic device 10 and external electronic devices 20 and 30 according to various embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0055] Electronic device 10 may include a pre-filter 210, a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter 220, a light source 230, a photocatalyst filter 240, and a blower fan 250. Furthermore, electronic device 10 may include a controller 280 (or processor) for performing operations such as driving the blower fan 250, irradiation from the light source 230, and regeneration of the photocatalyst filter 240, and may include a first sensor 270 for detecting the air quality inside electronic device 10.

[0056] The pre-filter 210 can be a component for filtering out relatively large dust particles and can be located closest to the inlet 12. The HEPA filter 220 can be a component located after the pre-filter 210 to filter, for example, fine dust that was not filtered by the pre-filter 210. The pre-filter 210 can primarily filter dust, and the HEPA filter 220, which has relatively higher performance than the pre-filter 210, can perform secondary dust filtration. Here, the HEPA filter 220 can be formed of, for example, glass fiber. Although not shown in the figure, an odor-removing filter containing activated carbon may also be included between the pre-filter 210 and the HEPA filter 220 or after the HEPA filter 220. The filters can be arranged according to... Figure 2 The order shown can be different. Alternatively, either filter 210 or 220 can be omitted (e.g., pre-filter 210).

[0057] Light source 230 may be a component that irradiates light onto photocatalyst filter 240. The photocatalyst material of photocatalyst filter 240 may react with the light emitted from light source 230 to remove harmful gases, odorous substances, microorganisms, etc. Light source 230 may emit light suitable for inducing a photocatalyst reaction in the photocatalyst material contained in photocatalyst filter 240. For example, light source 230 may be implemented as a device such as a fluorescent lamp, incandescent lamp, or light-emitting diode (LED), and may emit at least one type of light selected from white light, red light, green light, blue light, ultraviolet light, visible light, or infrared light. For example, light source 230 may be provided as a component with a lens assembly, such as a Fresnel lens, convex lens, or concave lens. Alternatively, light source 230 may be implemented as a component with a light guide member (not shown) to guide light emitted from light source 230 in one direction (e.g., toward photocatalyst filter 240) while preventing light leakage in other directions. At least one parameter of light source 230, including brightness, temperature, color, light focus, light emission timing, and light emission direction, may be controlled by controller 280.

[0058] According to an embodiment, the light source 230 may be located in front of the photocatalyst filter 240 to emit light toward the photocatalyst filter 240. Here, "in front" can be a term used to indicate the position of a component on the airflow flowing within the housing 11 of the electronic device 10. For example, the pre-filter 210, HEPA filter 220, and light source 230 may be located in front of the photocatalyst filter 240, and the blower fan 250 may be located behind the photocatalyst filter 240. The light source 230 may be located at a predetermined distance from the photocatalyst filter 240.

[0059] According to various embodiments, the light source 230 can be configured as, for example, a light-emitting element assembly of a plurality of light-emitting elements (e.g., LEDs) arranged in a row in the form of lamps. Figure 2 In this design, light source 230 is shown as three lamps, but it can consist of one, two, four, or more lamps. The number and arrangement of the lamps can vary. For example, in... Figure 2 In the diagram, the light source 230 is shown as vertically mounted in the height direction, but it is not necessarily limited to this and can be set in various other ways, such as horizontally. The photocatalyst filter 240 can perform air purification, deodorization, antibacterial, antifouling, and water purification functions. For example, the photocatalyst filter 240 can remove harmful substances from the air, such as nitrogen oxides (NOx), sulfur oxides (SOx), formaldehyde, etc. (air purification). Furthermore, the photocatalyst filter 240 can adsorb and / or decompose odors (deodorization), such as acetaldehyde, ammonia, and hydrogen sulfide, and can kill various viruses, pathogens, and bacteria, prevent decay (antibacterial effect), decompose organic matter such as cigarette smoke and grease (antifouling effect), and decompose harmful organic compounds contained in wastewater (water purification).

[0060] The photocatalyst filter 240 may include a photocatalyst material for purifying air by reacting with light emitted from the light source 230. Photocatalyst materials include, but are not limited to, titanium dioxide (TiO2), zinc oxide (ZnO), cadmium sulfide (CdS), tungsten oxide (WO3), or vanadium oxide (V2O3). Beads (described below) Figure 3 The beads (300) can be formed from the photocatalyst material itself, or by including the photocatalyst material and other additional materials (e.g., zeolite).

[0061] The photocatalyst filter 240 may also include a cover (not shown) at the front and / or rear to prevent bead leakage. The cover (not shown) is a vent cover and may be formed, for example, in the form of a mesh with densely packed perforations through which air inside the electronic device 10 flows. According to an embodiment, the cover (not shown) may be integrally formed with the photocatalyst filter 240.

[0062] The blower fan 250 is a component that introduces air from outside the electronic device 10 into the housing 11 through the inlet 12. The air introduced by the blower fan 250 can be purified as it passes through various filters (pre-filter 210, HEPA filter 220, and photocatalyst filter 240) and is discharged to the outside of the electronic device 10 through outlets 13a and 13b. The blower fan 250 can be operated under the control of the controller 280, and the airflow can be controlled under the control of the controller 280.

[0063] The first sensor 270 can be a sensor for measuring the air quality inside the electronic device 10. The first sensor 270 can measure the type and concentration of substances contained in the air. The first sensor 270 can be disposed within the internal space of the electronic device 10 (e.g., at a location adjacent to outlets 13a and 13b of the electronic device 10). Alternatively, the first sensor 270 can be disposed within the internal space of the electronic device 10 adjacent to the photocatalyst filter 240. The first sensor 270 can be of various types. For example, the first sensor 270 can be a gas sensor driven in various ways, including semiconductor, diffusion, automatic suction, electrochemical, catalytic combustion, or optical types. The first sensor 270 can be used to detect various gases, including hydrogen sulfide (H2S), sulfur dioxide (SO2), hydrogen cyanide (HCN), carbon monoxide (CO), chlorine (Cl2), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), ammonia (NH3), chlorine dioxide (ClO2), ozone (O3), or volatile organic compounds (VOCs).

[0064] The controller 280 is a component capable of controlling the overall operation of the electronic device 10. For example, the controller 280 can control the driving of the light source 230 and the blower fan 250. According to embodiments of this disclosure, the controller 280 can determine air quality based on the detection results of air by the first sensor 270 and the second sensors 22 and 32 of the external electronic devices 20 and 30 described below, and control the light source 230 and / or the blower fan 250 of the electronic device 10 according to the air quality. The controller 280 may also be referred to as a processor. For example, the controller 280 can execute, for example, a program (software) to control at least one other component (e.g., hardware or software component) of the electronic device 10 connected to the controller 335, and can perform various data processing or calculations. According to embodiments, as at least part of data processing or calculation, the controller 280 (or processor) can load commands or data received from another component (e.g., a sensor or communication module) into volatile memory, process the commands or data stored in the volatile memory, and store the result data in non-volatile memory. The controller 280 may include a central processing unit (CPU) (or digital signal processor (DSP), microprocessor unit (MPU), etc.), random access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), and a system bus. The controller 280 may be implemented as a microcomputer (MICOM) or an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC).

[0065] Controller 280 can be used in combination with the above. Figure 2 At least some of the components described automatically implement the air cleaning mode and filter regeneration mode of the electronic device 10 according to a preset algorithm, or implement the air cleaning mode and filter regeneration mode of the electronic device 10 according to user input. For example, implementing the air cleaning mode of the electronic device 10 may involve activating both the light source 230 and the blower fan 250 to emit light from the light source 230 to the photocatalyst filter 240, and introducing external air into the electronic device 10 through the blower fan 250 to purify the external air. Here, implementing the filter regeneration mode of the electronic device 10 may involve activating the light source 230, for example, while the blower fan 250 remains inactive, to emit light from the light source 230 to the photocatalyst filter 240, thereby removing contaminants from the filter. According to the embodiment, the time for activating the light source 230 and emitting light to the photocatalyst filter 240 in the filter regeneration mode can be set to be longer than the time for activating the light source 230 and emitting light to the photocatalyst filter 240 in the air cleaning mode. Therefore, in the filter regeneration mode, more light can be provided to the photocatalyst filter 240.

[0066] It should be noted that, according to various embodiments of this disclosure, the air cleaning mode and filter regeneration mode may include activating other components and using them to perform operations, rather than activating and operating the components described above. For example, see the following reference... Figures 16 to 18 As described in the embodiment, in the filter regeneration mode, while allowing air in the electronic device 10 to flow in the reverse direction RF and pass through the photocatalyst filter 240, the blower fan 250 can be activated to further improve the filter regeneration efficiency. Simultaneously, the filter regeneration mode may additionally include a sealing mode to block at least one of the air passages in the electronic device 10's inlet 12 and outlets 13a and 13b, preventing further inflow of airborne contaminants into the electronic device 10.

[0067] Reference Figure 3 The electronic device 10 can communicate with at least one external electronic device 20 and 30 and transmit information about the electronic device 10 (e.g., information related to filter replacement time) to at least one external electronic device 20 and 30. Various wireless communication schemes, including Z-wave, 4LoWPAN, RFID, LTE-D2D, Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), GPRS, Weightless, ZigBee, Edge Zigbee, ANT+, NFC, IrDA, DECT, WLAN, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, Wi-Fi Direct, GSM, UMTS, LTE, WiBRO, 3G, 4G, 5G, and ultrasonic wireless communication, as well as access to external devices via the Internet and short-range communication networks (LANs), can be applied to communication between electronic device 10 and external electronic devices 20 and 30.

[0068] Figure 3An air conditioner 20 and a refrigerator 30 are shown as external electronic devices, but the implementation is not limited thereto. As external electronic devices communicating and transmitting information with electronic device 10, either air conditioner 20 or refrigerator 30 can be selected. Furthermore, alternatively or additionally, other electronic products can be applied to the external electronic devices 20 and 30 of this disclosure. Examples of external electronic devices 20 and 30 can vary. For example, examples may include various electronic products, including air conditioners, refrigerators, televisions (TVs) or other various home appliances, smartphones, tablet PCs (PCs), desktop PCs, or laptop computers. External electronic devices 20 and 30 may include Internet of Things (IoT) devices. Therefore, electronic device 10 can be applied to smart services (e.g., smart homes, smart cities, smart cars, or healthcare) based on 5G communication technology and / or IoT-related technologies.

[0069] According to various embodiments of this disclosure, external electronic devices 20 and 30 may include display units 21 and 31, which may thereby display information received from electronic device 10 (e.g., information related to filter replacement time).

[0070] External electronic devices 20 and 30 may include second sensors 22 and 32. Second sensors 22 and 32 may be sensors for measuring the air quality outside the electronic device 10. Second sensors 22 and 32 may measure the type and concentration of substances contained in the air outside the electronic device 10. Second sensors 22 and 32 may also be of various types. For example, second sensors 22 and 32 may be gas sensors driven in various ways, including catalytic combustion type or optical type.

[0071] According to various embodiments of this disclosure, since the second sensors 22 and 32 are disposed outside the electronic device 10, unlike the first sensor 270, the second sensors 22 and 32 can determine the air quality at locations farther away from the filter of the electronic device 10 than the first sensor 270. Because the second sensors 22 and 32 can measure the quality of the air outside the electronic device 10, the quality of the air outside the electronic device 10 can be compared with the quality of the air flowing within the electronic device 10, making it possible to determine whether the filter of the electronic device 10 needs to be replaced. Referring below... Figure 8 The implementation method describes the filter regeneration and replacement process in more detail.

[0072] Figure 4 This is a perspective view showing a photocatalyst filter 240 according to various embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0073] The photocatalyst filter 240 may include: a body 241 having at least one unit 240a, 240b, 240c, 240d, 240e, 240f, 240g, 240h, 240i, 240j, 240k, 240l, 240m, 240n and 240o through which air can pass; and a plurality of partitions 242 and 243 to define at least one unit 240a, 240b, 240c, 240d, 240e, 240f, 240g, 240h, 240i, 240j, 240k, 240l, 240m, 240n and 240o of the body 241. The internal space of at least one unit 240a, 240b, 240c, 240d, 240e, 240f, 240g, 240h, 240i, 240j, 240k, 240l, 240m, 240n, and 240o can be filled with a plurality of beads 300. The embodiments of at least one unit 240a, 240b, 240c, 240d, 240e, 240f, 240g, 240h, 240i, 240j, 240k, 240l, 240m, 240n, and 240o are not limited to those shown in the accompanying drawings. According to embodiments, at least one unit 240a, 240b, 240c, 240d, 240e, 240f, 240g, 240h, 240i, 240j, 240k, 240l, 240m, 240n, and 240o can be defined in various quantities, shapes, and sizes. The shape and size of the beads 300 housed inside the photocatalyst filter 240 can also vary.

[0074] Beads 300 are photocatalyst beads and can be formed from the photocatalyst material itself or a combination of the photocatalyst material with other additional materials. For example, beads 300 may include adsorbents (e.g., zeolite, sepiolite, mesoporous silica (SiO2), activated carbon, clay, etc.) as additional materials besides the photocatalyst material to better adsorb impurities. For example, beads 300 can be formed by adding a small amount (e.g., 2 wt% to 20 wt%) of water and titanium dioxide (TiO2) (which is the photocatalyst material) and zeolite. Here, the zeolite may include natural zeolite or synthetic zeolite (zeolite A, zeolite X, zeolite Y, ZSM-5 zeolite, or β-zeolite). As another example, beads 300 can be formed by mixing and granulating, sieving, and drying water and titanium dioxide (TiO2) (which is the photocatalyst material) and zeolite. According to various embodiments of this disclosure, electronic devices (e.g., Figure 1 The electronic device 10) can be a hybrid electronic device, which is a combination of a decomposition type that decomposes pollutants in the air through the photocatalytic phenomenon and an adsorption type that adsorbs pollutants, and this hybrid type serves as a method for generating clean air by removing pollutants from the air (air purification method).

[0075] The shape and size of the beads 300 can be appropriately selected according to the type of gas to be removed, the removal rate, or the removal speed. The shape of the beads 300 can be, for example, spherical, cylindrical, hexahedral, or porous, and the size of the beads 300 can be, for example, from 0.5 mm to 5 mm. However, not limited to specific shapes and sizes, the beads can be formed in any shape and any size. According to various embodiments, the beads 300 can have a smooth surface and can have protrusions on the surface to increase the reaction surface area.

[0076] Figure 5 This is a view illustrating examples of an opening / closing component 244 (e.g., a flap assembly) in a photocatalyst filter 240 according to various embodiments of the present disclosure opening or closing according to airflow in the opening / closing component 244.

[0077] According to an embodiment, the photocatalyst filter 240 may have an opening / closing component 244 formed on the rear surface of the body 241. According to an embodiment, multiple opening / closing components 244 may be provided in one photocatalyst filter 240. For example, multiple opening / closing components 244 may be respectively disposed in at least one unit 240a, 240b, 240c, 240d, 240e, 240f, 240g, 240h, 240i, 240j, 240k, 240l, 240m, 240n, and 240o of the photocatalyst filter 240 to open or close the airflow flowing in at least one unit 240a, 240b, 240c, 240d, 240e, 240f, 240g, 240h, 240i, 240j, 240k, 240l, 240m, 240n, and 240o. According to an embodiment, the opening / closing component 244 can be pivotally connected to one side of the main body 241, so as... Figure 5 As shown in (a), open or as Figure 5 (b) shows the closed state.

[0078] According to another embodiment, the opening / closing component 244 can be positioned at a predetermined distance (e.g., 0.1 cm to 3 cm) from the photocatalyst filter 240. Although Figure 6 and Figure 7 The opening / closing component 244 is shown to be integrally formed with the photocatalyst filter 240, but the embodiment is not limited thereto. It should be noted that the opening / closing component 244 may be provided as a component separate from the photocatalyst filter 240 in the housing.

[0079] According to the implementation method, Figure 5The opening and closing of the opening / closing component 244 can be performed based on the airflow rate through the opening / closing component 244. For example, the opening / closing component 244 can be opened when the blower 250 introduces a large amount of outside air into the interior of the electronic device 10, such as when the electronic device 10 is operating in cleaning mode. Conversely, the opening / closing component 244 can be closed when the blower 250 does not need to introduce air, such as when the electronic device 10 is powered off (off) or operating in filter regeneration mode.

[0080] According to the implementation, the opening and closing of the opening / closing component 244 can be manually achieved based on the amount of air flowing through the opening / closing component 244 inside the electronic device 10. For example, when the blower fan 250 is operated to introduce air into the electronic device 10, the opening / closing component 244 can be forced open by being pushed by a large amount of air flowing from the front to the rear of the opening / closing component 244. As an example, when the blower fan 250 is not operating or the amount of air pressurized on the opening / closing component 244 is small, the opening / closing component 244 does not open but remains closed. As another example, if the blower fan 250 is initially operating in the closed state of the opening / closing component 244, or if the amount of air pressurized on the opening / closing component 244 increases, the opening / closing component 244 can open, and when the operation of the blower fan 250 stops or the amount of air pressurized on the opening / closing component 244 subsequently decreases, the opening / closing component 244 can return from the open state to the closed state. According to an embodiment, the opening / closing component 244 may be configured to close when closed by gravity acting on the opening / closing component 244.

[0081] However, not limited thereto, according to another embodiment, the opening and closing of the opening / closing component 244 can also be achieved by the operation of an active element (such as a motor) controlled by the controller 280.

[0082] Figure 6 This is a view showing the open state of the open / close component 244 in the photocatalyst filter 240 according to various embodiments of the present disclosure. Figure 7 This is a view showing the closed state of the on / off component 244 in the photocatalyst filter 240 according to various embodiments of the present disclosure. For example, Figure 6 and 7 It can be Figure 4 The schematic cross-sectional view of the photocatalyst filter 240 shown is taken along A-A'.

[0083] According to various embodiments, the main body 241 may include a first opening 241a formed in the front surface of the main body and a second opening 241b formed in the rear surface of the main body. Air introduced into the electronic device may enter the photocatalytic filter 240 through the first opening 241a and exit from the photocatalytic filter 240 through the second opening 241b in forward flow.

[0084] According to the implementation method, such as Figure 6 and Figure 7 As shown, the opening / closing component 244 may include a hinge structure 246 connected to the body 241 of the photocatalyst filter 240. According to another embodiment, the opening / closing component 244 may also have a rigid plate structure to maintain its shape between opening and closing. According to an embodiment, the hinge structure 246 may be formed of an elastic material to function as the opening / closing component 244. However, it is not limited to this; the connection, arrangement, and / or shape of the opening / closing component 244 or its surrounding components may vary according to the embodiment. The opening / closing component 244 may have any components, arrangement, and / or shape, as long as it can be opened or closed based on the airflow rate through the opening / closing component 244 and / or the operation of the blower 250. For example, the opening / closing component 244 may be formed of a thin metal film and open or close according to the airflow rate through the opening / closing component 244 and / or the operation of the blower 250. According to an embodiment, when the opening / closing component 244 is formed of a thin metal film, the hinge structure 246 may be omitted. For example, the opening / closing component 244 can be configured to open by the flow of air through the first opening 241a and the second opening 241b and close by gravity, without including a separate hinge structure 246.

[0085] The pivot angle of the opening / closing component 244 relative to its closed state can be formed from 0 degrees to 90 degrees, but is not limited thereto. According to various embodiments of this disclosure, the opening / closing component 244 may additionally or alternatively include a reflector 245. According to embodiments, the reflector 245 may be formed on the front surface of the opening / closing component 244 (the surface in the direction in which air is directed towards the opening / closing component 244). When the opening / closing component 244 is formed for each of at least one of the units 240a, 240b, 240c, 240d, 240e, 240f, 240g, 240h, 240i, 240j, 240k, 240l, 240m, 240n and 240o, the reflector 245 may also be formed on the front surface of the opening / closing component 244 for each of the units 240a, 240b, 240c, 240d, 240e, 240f, 240g, 240h, 240i, 240j, 240k, 240l, 240m, 240n and 240o.

[0086] The reflector 245 can be a component for collecting light emitted rearward from the light source 230 toward the photocatalyst filter 240 in front of each unit of the photocatalyst filter 240. For example, depending on whether the on / off component 244 is open or closed (i.e., depending on the operation of the blower fan and / or the airflow rate through the on / off component 244), the reflector 245 may or may not collect light emitted from the light source 230 toward the beads 300 formed inside the photocatalyst filter 240. For example, as Figure 6 As shown, when the opening / closing component 244 is in the open state, the reflector 245 may not collect light incident on the bead from the light source 230. Instead, as... Figure 7 As shown, when the open / close component 244 is in the closed state, the reflector 245 can collect light emitted from the light source 230 onto the bead.

[0087] Light emitted from light source 230 can be radially emitted to photocatalyst filter 240 and incident on at least one unit 240a, 240b, and 240c. If the light incident on at least one unit 240a, 240b, and 240c reaches the beads 300 disposed in the space of at least one unit 240a, 240b, and 240c, the light can react with the photocatalyst material contained in the beads 300 to generate free radicals (e.g., OH), thereby decomposing pollutants in the air. Here, since at least one unit 240a, 240b, and 240c forms a space with a predetermined depth in the direction of light propagation, light may not reach the beads 300 located behind them compared to the beads 300 located in front of them in the space of the unit.

[0088] For example, such as Figure 6As shown, at least one unit 240a, 240b, and 240c can be divided into a front segment FS and a rear segment RS relative to a virtual line B-B' passing through the middle of the at least one unit 240a, 240b, and 240c. In this case, light emitted from the light source 230 can reach the beads 300 disposed in the front segment FS and the rear segment RS. According to the embodiment, light emitted from the light source 230 can partially pass through the front segment FS and the rear segment RS and reach the rear of the photocatalyst filter 240, but cannot reach the beads 300 disposed at the edge of the rear segment RS. Meanwhile, as Figure 7 As shown, when the opening / closing component 244 is in the closed state and the reflector 245 is formed in the opening / closing component 244, light can be reflected by the reflector 245 to reach the bead 300 disposed at the edge of the rear section RS of at least one unit 240a, 240b and 240c.

[0089] In other words, when the light source 230 emits light towards the photocatalyst filter 240, if the reflector 245 is not formed in the opening / closing component 244, or if the reflector 245 is formed in the opening / closing component 244 but the opening / closing component 244 is in the open state, then the range of light emitted from the light source 230 reaching the beads 300 inside the photocatalyst filter 240 can be limited to, for example... Figure 6 In contrast, when the light source 230 emits light towards the photocatalyst filter 240 (rearward), the light is reflected by the reflector 245, allowing the light to reach the beads 300 inside the photocatalyst filter 240 in a wider area than in other implementations. Figure 7 The implementation method is extended in that way. Figure 7 In this embodiment, the light emitted from the light source 230 can not only directly reach the beads 300, but can also be reflected by the reflector 245 to reach the blind spots inside the photocatalyst filter 240 or the beads 300 located in the rear RS section. As a result, the number of beads 300 reacting with the light source 230 increases, improving the efficiency of the photocatalyst filter.

[0090] As described above, the opening / closing component 244 can be positioned at a predetermined distance (e.g., 0.1 cm to 3 cm) spaced from the rear surface (or second opening 241b) of the photocatalyst filter 240. Therefore, the reflector 245 can also be formed at a predetermined distance (e.g., 0.1 cm to 3 cm) spaced from the rear surface (or second opening 241b) of the photocatalyst filter 240. Because the reflector 245 is spaced at a predetermined distance from the rear surface (or second opening 241b) of the photocatalyst filter 240, the light reaching the reflector 245 can cover most of the rear area of ​​the photocatalyst filter 240.

[0091] According to various embodiments of this disclosure, the reflector 245 may include a mirror, SUS, aluminum, aluminum alloy, or such metals. According to one embodiment, the reflector 245 may be formed from a lightweight polymer sheet or plastic sheet. According to another embodiment, the reflector 245 may be formed from a metal foil such as aluminum foil. The reflector 245 may be integrally formed with the opening / closing member 244 and may be a component that substantially replaces the opening / closing member 244, serving to open / close the airflow. Furthermore, various embodiments of this disclosure may also include embodiments in which the opening / closing member 244 is formed from a metal foil such as aluminum foil, and the reflector 245 corresponds to a thin metal film formed on at least one surface of the foil.

[0092] According to the various embodiments described above, as the electronic device 10 is used, the photocatalyst filter 240 becomes contaminated, thereby degrading its filtration efficiency. For example, airborne pollutants can be adsorbed onto the beads 300 included in the photocatalyst filter 240, and if sufficient light is not received from the light source 230 (e.g., when the adsorbed beads exist in blind spots in the photocatalyst filter where light cannot reach), the filtration performance of the photocatalyst filter 240 may not be fully utilized.

[0093] When the filtration performance of a photocatalyst filter degrades, the user can directly replace the filter with a new one. In contrast, this disclosure provides various embodiments of a method for automatically regenerating a photocatalyst filter whose filtration performance has degraded.

[0094] Figure 8 This is a flowchart illustrating a filter regeneration procedure according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0095] According to embodiments of this disclosure, the filter regeneration process may include at least one of operations 801 to 805.

[0096] In conjunction with operation 801, when the air cleaning mode of the electronic device 10 (e.g., an air purifier) ​​has ended (or when the mode is not being executed), the controller 280 can measure the quality of the air inside or in the environment of the electronic device 10 during a predetermined time period. According to an embodiment, the controller 280 can use a first sensor 270 inside the electronic device 10 and second sensors 22 and / or 32 of the external electronic devices 20 and / or 30 to measure the quality of the air inside and outside the electronic device 10 during a predetermined time (e.g., time t1).

[0097] In conjunction with operation 802, the first sensor 270 can be used to detect the concentration of a specific pollutant (e.g., gas) in the air inside the electronic device 10, and the second sensor 22 and / or 32 can be used to detect the concentration of the same pollutant (e.g., gas) in the air outside the electronic device 10. The controller 280 can acquire data related to the pollutants detected by the first sensor 270 and the second sensors 22 and / or 32, and based on this, determine whether the photocatalyst filter 240 is contaminated. This data may include parameters related to air pollution inside / outside the electronic device 10 (e.g., odor increase or odor intensity). The controller 280 can use the acquired data to identify whether the parameter increases (hereinafter referred to as "sensor value increase") or decreases (hereinafter referred to as "sensor value decrease") over time.

[0098] In conjunction with operation 803, the first sensor 270 and the second sensors 22 and / or 32 can be compared to increase their sensor values. As a result of their detection, the degree of air pollution inside the electronic device 10 can be measured to be greater than the degree of air pollution outside the electronic device 10. In other words, the increase in the sensor value of the first sensor 270 can be measured to be greater than the increase in the sensor value of the second sensors 22 and / or 32. In this case, it can be assessed that pollutants remain on the filter (e.g., photocatalyst filter) located inside the electronic device 10 when the air cleaning mode of the electronic device 10 is terminated or not executed. Therefore, it can be assessed that the filter performance has degraded.

[0099] In conjunction with operation 804, if the filter's performance is assessed as degraded, a filter regeneration mode can be initiated. In this case, the filter regeneration mode can be executed automatically. Furthermore, notifications for filter regeneration can be displayed via display unit 15 or 115 of electronic device 10 or display unit 21 and / or 31 of external electronic devices 20 and / or 30.

[0100] According to various embodiments of this disclosure, when the filter regeneration mode begins, filter regeneration can be performed by adjusting the amount of light emitted from the light source 230 based on the contamination value measured by a sensor. As the contamination value of the filter increases, the light source 230 can emit more light (or stronger light). In the filter regeneration mode, the operation of the blower fan 250 can be stopped. As described above in conjunction with the various embodiments, in the filter regeneration mode, the on / off component 244 can be turned off, and the light emitted from the light source 230 can be reflected by the reflector 245 to uniformly reach the beads 300, resulting in an increase in the filtration efficiency of the photocatalyst filter 240.

[0101] In conjunction with operation 805, after a predetermined time (e.g., time t2) following the entry into filter regeneration mode, or after filter regeneration is terminated via user input, the electronic device 10 can activate the air purification function using the regenerated filter.

[0102] Figure 9 This is a flowchart illustrating a filter regeneration procedure according to another embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0103] According to another embodiment of this disclosure, the filter regeneration process may include at least one of operations 901 to 907.

[0104] In conjunction with operation 901, while the air cleaning mode of the electronic device 10 (e.g., an air purifier) ​​is running, the controller 280 can measure the quality of the air inside or in the environment of the electronic device 10 during a predetermined period of time. According to an embodiment, the controller 280 can use a first sensor 270 inside the electronic device 10 and second sensors 22 and / or 32 of the external electronic devices 20 and / or 30 to measure the quality of the air inside and outside the electronic device 10 during a predetermined period (e.g., time t1).

[0105] In conjunction with operation 902, the first sensor 270 can be used to detect the concentration of a specific pollutant (e.g., gas) in the air inside the electronic device 10, and the second sensor 22 and / or 32 can be used to detect the concentration of the same pollutant (e.g., gas) in the air outside the electronic device 10. The controller 280 can acquire data related to the pollutants detected by the first sensor 270 and the second sensors 22 and / or 32, and determine based on this whether the photocatalyst filter 240 is contaminated. This data may include parameters related to air pollution inside / outside the electronic device 10 (e.g., odor increase or odor intensity). The controller 280 can use the acquired data to identify whether the parameter increases (hereinafter referred to as "sensor value increase") or decreases (hereinafter referred to as "sensor value decrease") over time. Operation 902 can be the same as operation 802 in the above-described embodiment.

[0106] In operation 903, the first sensor 270 and the second sensors 22 and / or 32 can be compared to indicate a decrease in sensor values. A decrease in sensor values ​​can mean a reduction in the contaminants detected by the sensors. In other words, a significant decrease in sensor values ​​can mean that the contaminant removal function has been successfully performed. For example, when the decrease in sensor value of the first sensor 270 is greater than the decrease in sensor values ​​of the second sensors 22 and / or 32, this can mean that the photocatalyst filter 240 around the first sensor 270 has good contaminant removal performance.

[0107] In contrast, in conjunction with operation 904, the reduction in the sensor value of the first sensor 270 may not be greater than the reduction in the sensor value of the second sensor 22 and / or 32.

[0108] In conjunction with operations 904 and 905, when the sensor value of the first sensor 270 decreases in a manner similar to the decrease in the sensor values ​​of the second sensors 22 and / or 32, the performance degradation of the photocatalyst filter can be assessed, indicating that the filtration function is not operating properly. Here, similar decreases in the sensor values ​​of the two sensors may mean that the sensor value decreases differ within a preset error range. In this case, in conjunction with operation 905, if the filter performance is assessed as degraded, the filter regeneration mode can be activated. Furthermore, a filter regeneration notification can be displayed to allow the user to recognize the necessity of filter regeneration or to acknowledge that the air cleaning function may not be operating properly. In operation 905, the activation of the filter regeneration mode can be determined based on the user's selection.

[0109] In conjunction with operation 906, even if the decrease in the sensor value of the first sensor 270 is less than the decrease in the sensor values ​​of the second sensors 22 and / or 32, it can be assessed that the filtration function of the photocatalyst filter is not operating normally. In this case, it can be assessed that the filter performance has further degraded compared to when the decrease in the sensor value of the first sensor 270 is measured to be similar to the decrease in the sensor values ​​of the second sensors 22 and / or 32, thereby automatically initiating the filter regeneration mode.

[0110] In conjunction with operation 907, after a predetermined time (e.g., time t2) following the entry into filter regeneration mode, or after filter regeneration is terminated via user input, the electronic device 10 can activate the air purification function using the regenerated filter.

[0111] Figure 10 This is a flowchart illustrating a filter regeneration procedure according to another embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0112] According to another embodiment of this disclosure, the filter regeneration process may include at least one of operations 1001 to 1007.

[0113] In conjunction with operation 1001, while the air cleaning mode of the electronic device 10 (e.g., an air purifier) ​​is running, the controller 280 can measure the quality of the air inside or in the environment of the electronic device 10 during a predetermined period of time. In this embodiment, the electronic device 10 may not necessarily need to be in an air cleaning mode operating state. For example, operation 1001 can be performed even when the air cleaning mode of the electronic device has ended or when the air cleaning mode is not being executed. The controller 280 can use the first sensor 270 inside the electronic device 10 and the second sensors 22 and / or 32 of the external electronic devices 20 and / or 30 to measure the internal air quality and the external air quality of the electronic device 10 during a predetermined period (e.g., time t1).

[0114] In operation 1002, based on a preset algorithm of the sensor and using data obtained from the first sensor 270, the controller 280 can determine the amount of gas to be reduced (hereinafter referred to as "gas reduction") when the air cleaning mode of the electronic device 10 is operated. The preset algorithm of the sensor can be an algorithm related to the reduction amount of each gas within a predetermined time. This algorithm can be stored in the memory of the controller 280 or a separate sensor IC provided in the sensor. According to this algorithm, when the air cleaning function is running, it can be determined which gases have been reduced by how much.

[0115] In conjunction with operation 1003, controller 280 can compare the reduction in gas concentration of a specific gas (e.g., 60 ppm for toluene) with the adsorption limit of photocatalyst filter 240. For example, when manufacturing photocatalyst filter 240, the adsorption limit for a specific gas can be preset. For example, when the reduction in gas concentration is less than the adsorption limit, the filtration performance of photocatalyst filter 240 can be determined to be effective.

[0116] Combining operations 1004 and 1005, when the gas reduction is similar to the adsorption limit, the filtration limit of the photocatalyst filter can be predicted to be approaching. Here, the gas reduction being similar to the adsorption limit may imply a difference within a preset error range. In this case, combined with operation 1005, if the filter performance is assessed as degraded, the filter regeneration mode can be activated. Furthermore, a filter regeneration notification can be displayed to allow the user to recognize the necessity of filter regeneration or to acknowledge that the air cleaning function may not be operating properly. In operation 1005, the activation of the filter regeneration mode can be determined based on the user's selection.

[0117] Based on operation 1006, when the gas reduction exceeds the adsorption limit, it can be predicted that the photocatalyst filter will exceed its filtration limit, and therefore the filter's performance will degrade. In this case, the filter regeneration mode can be automatically activated.

[0118] In conjunction with operation 1007, after a predetermined time (e.g., time t2) following the entry into filter regeneration mode, or after filter regeneration is terminated via user input, the electronic device 10 can activate the air purification function using the regenerated filter.

[0119] Figure 11 This is a flowchart illustrating a filter regeneration procedure according to another embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0120] In conjunction with operation 1101, controller 280 can measure the air quality inside and around electronic device 10 during a predetermined time period. Data on the internal air quality of electronic device 10 using first sensor 270 and data on the external air quality of electronic device 10 using second sensors 22 and / or 32 can be obtained.

[0121] In conjunction with operation 1102, controller 280 can determine, based on data obtained relating to air quality from first sensor 270 and second sensors 22 and / or 32, whether the ambient air of electronic device 10 meets clean air standards. Determining whether clean air standards are met can be aimed at creating an optimal environment for filter regeneration.

[0122] When it is determined that the ambient air of electronic device 10 is clean, in conjunction with operation 1103, it can be further determined whether the regeneration (or replacement) of the photocatalyst filter has exceeded a predetermined time. For example, when the photocatalyst filter has not exceeded the pre-specified regeneration or replacement cycle, the filtration performance of the photocatalyst filter can be evaluated as effective, while when the pre-specified regeneration or replacement cycle of the filter has been exceeded, the filtration performance of the photocatalyst filter can be evaluated as degraded.

[0123] In conjunction with operation 1104, the filter regeneration mode can be activated when the photocatalyst filter exceeds a pre-specified regeneration or replacement cycle. Furthermore, a filter regeneration notification can be displayed to allow the user to recognize the necessity of filter regeneration or to acknowledge that the air cleaning function may not be operating properly.

[0124] In conjunction with operation 1105, after a predetermined time (e.g., time t2) following the entry into filter regeneration mode, or after filter regeneration is terminated via user input, the electronic device 10 can activate the air purification function using the regenerated filter.

[0125] The following section describes various examples of improving the filtration efficiency of photocatalytic filters. For example, Figures 12 to 15 Various examples of implementations that improve the efficiency of the photocatalytic filter using the light source 230 can be disclosed. As another example, Figures 16 to 18The implementation methods can disclose various examples of improving the efficiency of the photocatalyst filter by changing the blowing direction of the blower 250. As another example, Figure 19 The implementation methods may disclose various examples of improving the efficiency of photocatalyst filters by applying photocatalyst filters according to implementation methods different from those described above.

[0126] Figure 12 This is a view illustrating a method for improving the regeneration efficiency of a photocatalyst filter using a light source 230 according to an embodiment. Figure 13 It is shown that the basis is different Figure 12 A view of an embodiment of a method for improving the regeneration efficiency of a photocatalyst filter using a light source 230. Figure 14 It is shown that the basis is different Figure 12 A view of another embodiment of a method for improving the regeneration efficiency of a photocatalyst filter using a light source 230. Figure 15 It is shown that the basis is different Figure 12 A view of another embodiment of a method for improving the regeneration efficiency of a photocatalyst filter using a light source 230.

[0127] Figures 12 to 15 Various implementations may be disclosed to increase the amount of light incident on the photocatalyst filter 240 and reaching the bead 300 by using, for example, variations in the number of light-emitting elements of the light source 230 located in front of the photocatalyst filter 240, the intensity of light emission, or the angle of incidence.

[0128] Reference Figure 12 When multiple light sources 230 are present in the electronic device 10, and each of the multiple light sources 230 includes multiple light-emitting elements (e.g., LEDs), the amount of light can be increased by increasing the number of light-emitting elements.

[0129] Reference Figure 13 When the intensity of the light emitted from the light source 230 is adjustable, the efficiency of the photocatalyst filter can be improved by emitting stronger light from the light source 230.

[0130] Figure 12 and Figure 13 The embodiment illustrates the operation of the photocatalyst filter 240 in filter regeneration mode. According to... Figure 12 and 13 In the implementation of the air cleaning mode, the photocatalyst filter 240 can be regenerated more quickly by increasing the amount of light irradiated onto the photocatalyst filter 240 compared to the light irradiation from the light source 230.

[0131] According to various implementation methods, refer to Figure 13 Description of implementation methods Figure 10The above-described embodiment. When regenerating the filter 240 is performed when the amount of gas adsorbed onto the photocatalyst filter 240 is small, weak light can be emitted from the light source 230, such as... Figure 13 As shown in (a), and when regeneration of filter 240 is performed under conditions where the amount of gas adsorbed onto photocatalyst filter 240 is large, strong light can be emitted from light source 230, such as... Figure 13 As shown in (b).

[0132] Reference Figure 14 and Figure 15 By changing the direction of light irradiation from the light source 230, the amount of light reaching the internal space of the photocatalyst filter can be increased, thereby improving the efficiency of the photocatalyst filter. The method for changing the irradiation direction of the light source 230 can be based on, for example... Figure 14 and 15 The implementation may vary as shown.

[0133] Figure 16 This is a view showing an example of air flowing through at least one unit of the photocatalyst filter 240 in the forward direction F or the reverse direction RF. Figure 17 This is a view showing an example of air particles being adsorbed onto beads 300 as air flows in the forward direction F. Figure 18 This is a view showing an example of air particles being adsorbed onto beads 300 when air flows in the opposite direction RF.

[0134] Air flowing in the electronic device 10 can pass through at least one unit of the photocatalyst filter 240 and flow in the forward direction F by the operation of the blower fan 250, or flow in the reverse direction RF opposite to the forward direction F by the operation of the blower fan 250.

[0135] For example, the blower fan 250 can draw air from outside the electronic device, and the air drawn into the interior space of the electronic device 10 can flow in a forward direction F from inlet to outlet. For example, when the air purification mode is activated, the electronic device 10 can purify the external air through the airflow in the forward direction F. (Return to reference) Figure 6 Air flows in the forward direction F and can pass sequentially through the first opening 241a and the second opening 241b of the photocatalyst filter 240.

[0136] As another example, the blower fan 250 can cause air to flow in a reverse direction RF, opposite to the forward direction. According to one embodiment, by means of the blower fan 250, air present in the electronic device 10 can be flowed in the reverse direction RF for a predetermined period of time. According to another embodiment, the blower fan 250 can also be used to introduce air from outside the electronic device via the reverse direction RF flow. In this case, the air introduced into the interior space of the electronic device 10 can flow in the reverse direction from outlet to inlet. The electronic device 10 can remove contaminants adsorbed in the filter (e.g., in filter regeneration mode) by the airflow in the reverse direction RF. (Return to Reference) Figure 6 In the reverse RF flow, air can pass sequentially through the second opening 241b and the first opening 241a of the photocatalyst filter 240.

[0137] In filter regeneration mode, such as Figure 16 (b) and Figure 17 and 18 In the illustrated embodiment, the electronic device 10 can allow air to flow in the reverse direction (RF), resulting in the desorption of pollutants adsorbed in the later section of the photocatalyst filter 240. This allows for the delivery of pollutants adsorbed on the beads in the later section of the photocatalyst filter 240, which would not be decomposed due to the reverse airflow (RF), to the beads in the earlier section for decomposition.

[0138] Reference Figure 17 (a) The air introduced into the interior of the electronic device 10 in the forward F airflow may contain multiple pollutant particles 301. For example... Figure 17 As shown in (b), multiple contaminant particles 301 can be uniformly adsorbed over the entire area of ​​multiple beads 300 disposed in the photocatalyst filter 240. For example, as described above... Figure 6 and Figure 7 As described in the embodiments, during the regeneration process of the photocatalyst filter 240, some of the multiple contaminant particles 301 may be contaminant-free particles 302, but others, such as particles 301 located in the later section of the photocatalyst filter 240, away from the section where the light source 230 is located, will still be contaminated despite the filter regeneration process.

[0139] According to various embodiments of this disclosure, in the regeneration mode of the photocatalyst filter 240, contaminants adsorbed on the photocatalyst filter 240 can be removed by reversing the blowing direction of the blower fan 250. Figure 18 (a) and Figure 18 The implementation of (b) can be carried out according to the above. Figure 17 (a) and Figure 17 The regeneration process of the photocatalyst filter 240 in embodiment (b) is performed continuously afterward.

[0140] Reference Figure 18 In (a), during the reverse F airflow, contaminants 301 adsorbed onto the beads 300 in the rear section of the photocatalyst filter 240 can move to the front section of the photocatalyst filter 240. (See reference...) Figure 18 (a) and Figure 18 (b) In this case, particles 301 located at the downstream end of the photocatalyst filter 240 can move to the upstream end of the photocatalyst filter 240, and contaminants can be removed by photocatalytic reaction. Therefore, contaminants adsorbed onto beads 300 can be effectively removed.

[0141] According to the implementation method, only when the indoor air pollution level is lower than a predetermined value by at least one sensor 270, 22, and 32, according to Figures 16 to 18 The implementation method can only be operated using a reverse flow filter regeneration mode.

[0142] Figure 19 This is a view illustrating examples of multiple sub-filters included in a photocatalyst filter being exchanged according to various embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0143] Reference Figure 19 The photocatalyst filter 240 may include multiple separate sub-filters. Figure 19 In the enlarged view of (b), the photocatalyst filter 240 may include a plurality of sub-filters 240' separated in the width direction. According to various embodiments of the present disclosure, in the regeneration mode of the photocatalyst filter 240, the front and rear sections of the plurality of sub-filters may be interchanged.

[0144] The plurality of sub-filters 240' may include a first portion 240-1 positioned towards the first light source 230 from a virtual line passing through the middle region of the filter, and a second portion 240-2 facing away from the first portion 240-1. For example, when the air cleaning mode of the electronic device 10 is ended or started, contaminants may remain adsorbed onto beads located in the second portion 240-2 of the plurality of sub-filters 240'. To remove contaminants and improve regeneration efficiency, the first portion 240-1 and the second portion 240-2 of the plurality of sub-filters 240' may be interchanged. According to an embodiment, the plurality of sub-filters 240' may be rotated 180 degrees about an axis 240-3 formed at the center of the filter. For example, after the first regeneration of the photocatalyst filter 240, the first portion 240-1 and the second portion 240-2 of the plurality of sub-filters 240' may be interchanged, such that the second portion 240-2 faces the light source 230, while the first portion 240-1 faces away from the light source 230, and then a second regeneration of the photocatalyst filter 240 may be performed.

[0145] according to Figure 19 The embodiment shown can improve the regeneration effect by mixing beads 300 in the photocatalyst filter 240.

[0146] Figure 20 This is a view showing the degassing efficiency per cycle of a photocatalyst filter 240 according to various embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0147] For example, refer to Figure 20 According to various embodiments of this disclosure, when the air cleaning function is operated using the photocatalyst filter 240, the degassing rate gradually decreases depending on the operating cycle of the air purifier. If contaminants adsorbed on the beads 300 of the photocatalyst filter 240 are not removed but accumulate, the degassing efficiency may decrease sharply each time the air cleaning function is reused. Therefore, it is preferable to regenerate the photocatalyst filter 240 according to various embodiments of this disclosure after a predetermined number of uses of the air cleaning function. Figure 20 An example is shown where the degassing efficiency of the photocatalyst filter 240 decreases, for example, within each cycle of 30 minutes. Based on the above... Figures 1 to 19 The various embodiments of this disclosure described herein can determine that the degassing efficiency is restored to a degree similar to the initial state by regenerating the photocatalyst filter 240 for a predetermined time (e.g., 24 hours) after some cycles.

[0148] It should be understood that the various embodiments of this disclosure and the terminology used therein are not intended to limit the technical features set forth herein to the specific embodiments, but rather to include various variations, equivalents, or substitutions of the corresponding embodiments. Regarding the description of the drawings, similar reference numerals may be used to refer to similar or related elements. It should be understood that the singular form of a noun corresponding to an item may include one or more things unless the relevant context clearly indicates otherwise. As used herein, each of phrases such as “A or B,” “at least one of A and B,” “at least one of A or B,” “A, B, or C,” “at least one of A, B, and C,” and “at least one of A, B, or C” may include all possible combinations of items listed together in the corresponding phrase. As used herein, terms such as “first” and “second” or “first” and “second” may be used simply to distinguish corresponding components from one other component without otherwise limiting the components (e.g., importance or order). It should be understood that if an element (e.g., the first element) is referred to as being “connected”, “linked to”, “connected to”, or “attached to” another element (e.g., the second element), regardless of whether the terms “operationally” or “communically” are used, it means that the element can be connected to the other element directly (e.g., wired), wirelessly, or via a third element.

[0149] As used herein, the term "module" can include a unit implemented in hardware, software, or firmware, and is used interchangeably with other terms such as "logic," "logic block," "component," or "circuit." A module can be a single integrated component adapted to perform one or more functions, or its smallest unit or portion. For example, depending on the implementation, a module can be implemented as an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC).

[0150] According to various embodiments, each of the above-described components (e.g., a module or program) may include a single entity or multiple entities. Some of the multiple entities may be separately located in different components. According to various embodiments, one or more of the above-described components may be omitted, or one or more other components may be added. Alternatively or additionally, multiple components (e.g., modules or programs) may be integrated into a single component. In this case, according to various embodiments, the integrated component may still perform one or more functions of each of the multiple components in the same or similar manner as performed by a corresponding component of the multiple components prior to integration. According to various embodiments, operations performed by a module, program, or other component may be performed sequentially, in parallel, repeatedly, or heuristically, or one or more operations may be performed in a different order or omitted, or one or more other operations may be added.

[0151] According to various embodiments of this disclosure, an electronic device (e.g., Figure 1 The electronic device 10 includes: a housing (e.g., Figure 2 Housing 11), photocatalyst filter (e.g., Figure 2 The photocatalyst filter 240), and at least one sensor disposed in the housing (e.g., Figure 2 The first sensor 270), configured to introduce air into the housing (e.g., a blower fan), Figure 2 The blower fan 250), and the light source configured to emit light to the photocatalyst filter (e.g., Figure 2 The light source 230), and a controller configured to control the drive of the blower fan and the light source (e.g., Figure 2 The controller 280 is configured to operate based on at least one sensor disposed within the housing and at least one other sensor disposed outside the housing (e.g., Figure 3 The degree of contamination of the photocatalyst filter is determined by the difference in sensor values ​​or the rate of change of sensor values ​​between the second sensor (22 or 32), and the photocatalyst filter is regenerated based on the determined degree of contamination.

[0152] According to various embodiments, the photocatalyst filter may include: a body (e.g., Figure 6 The main body 241 includes an internal space through which fluid flows; and provides a plurality of photocatalyst beads (e.g., Figure 6 The beads 300); and an opening / closing component (e.g., connected to the body and configured to be opened or closed based on fluid flow) Figure 6 The opening / closing component 244). Reflector (e.g., Figure 6 The reflector 245 can be formed on a surface of the opening / closing component to reflect light when the opening / closing component is closed, thereby increasing the amount of light reaching the bead.

[0153] According to various embodiments, the body may include a first opening formed on the front surface of the body (e.g., Figure 6 The first opening 241a) and the second opening (e.g., formed in the rear surface of the body) Figure 6 The second opening (241b).

[0154] According to various embodiments, the opening / closing component can be configured to open or close on the second opening.

[0155] According to various embodiments, when the opening / closing component is closed on the second opening, the reflector can face the first opening.

[0156] According to various implementations, the opening / closing component can be a passive opening / closing component that opens or closes according to the airflow driven by the blower fan.

[0157] According to various implementation schemes, the beads can be hybrid beads, including photocatalytic materials that decompose pollutants in a fluid by inducing photocatalytic oxidation and adsorbents that adsorb pollutants in a fluid.

[0158] According to various embodiments, the reflector may include a light-scattering material or have a shape formed on its surface and configured to scatter light.

[0159] According to various embodiments, the housing may include an opening / closing component that opens or closes based on fluid flow. A reflector may be formed on one surface of the opening / closing component to reflect light when the opening / closing component is closed, thereby increasing the amount of light reaching the bead.

[0160] According to various embodiments, the controller can be configured to regenerate the photocatalyst filter after the air cleaning mode of the electronic device has ended, when the increase in a first sensor value obtained by at least one sensor disposed in the housing is greater than the increase in a second sensor value obtained by at least one sensor disposed outside the housing.

[0161] According to various embodiments, the controller can be configured to regenerate the photocatalyst filter when the air cleaning mode of the electronic device is running, and the decrease in a first sensor value obtained by at least one sensor disposed in the housing is less than the decrease in a second sensor value obtained by at least one sensor disposed outside the housing.

[0162] According to various implementation methods, the photocatalyst filter can be automatically regenerated by the controller.

[0163] According to various implementations, the controller can be configured to increase the number of light-emitting elements to allow the light source to emit more light in the regeneration mode of the photocatalyst filter.

[0164] According to various implementations, the controller can be configured to increase the intensity of the light-emitting element to allow the light source to emit more light in the regeneration mode of the photocatalyst filter.

[0165] According to various implementation methods, the controller can be configured to change the light irradiation direction of the light source in the regeneration mode of the photocatalyst filter.

[0166] According to various implementations, the controller can be configured to reverse the airflow direction of the blower fan in the regeneration mode of the photocatalyst filter.

[0167] According to various embodiments, the photocatalyst filter may include multiple separate sub-filters, and the front and rear sections of the multiple sub-filters may be exchanged in the regeneration mode of the photocatalyst filter.

[0168] For those skilled in the art, the photocatalyst filter and the electronic device including the photocatalyst filter according to the various embodiments of the present disclosure are obviously not limited to the embodiments shown in the above description and the accompanying drawings. Various changes, modifications or alterations can be made to them without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. An electronic device comprising: case; Photocatalyst filters; At least one sensor is disposed in the housing; A blower fan configured to introduce air into the housing; A light source configured to emit light toward the photocatalyst filter; as well as The controller is configured to control the drive of the blower fan and the light source. The controller is configured to It communicates and transmits information with at least one external electronic device, including at least one other sensor. The degree of air pollution is determined based on the difference or rate of change of sensor values ​​between at least one sensor disposed in the housing and at least one other sensor of the external electronic device. The regeneration of the photocatalyst filter is performed based on the determined level of air pollution. The photocatalyst filter mentioned above includes: The main body, including the interior space through which air passes; Multiple photocatalyst beads are provided in the internal space; and An opening / closing component, connected to the main body, is configured to open relative to the main body based on airflow or close by gravity. A reflector is formed on one surface of the opening / closing component to reflect light when the opening / closing component is closed, thereby increasing the amount of light reaching the plurality of photocatalyst beads.

2. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the body includes a first opening formed on the front surface of the body and a second opening formed on the rear surface of the body. The opening / closing component is configured to open or close on the second opening, and The reflector is formed on one surface of the opening / closing member so as to face the first opening when the opening / closing member is closed on the second opening.

3. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the opening / closing component is a passive opening / closing component that opens or closes according to the airflow driven by the blower fan.

4. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of photocatalyst beads are mixed beads comprising a photocatalyst material that decomposes contaminants in a fluid by inducing photocatalytic oxidation and an adsorbent that adsorbs the contaminants in the fluid.

5. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the reflector comprises a light-scattering material or has a shape formed on its surface and configured to scatter light.

6. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to automatically perform the operation of regenerating the photocatalyst filter after the air cleaning mode of the electronic device ends, when the increase in a first sensor value obtained by the at least one sensor disposed in the housing is greater than the increase in a second sensor value obtained by the at least one sensor of the external electronic device.

7. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to automatically perform the operation of regenerating the photocatalyst filter when the air cleaning mode of the electronic device is running and the decrease in a first sensor value obtained by the at least one sensor disposed in the housing is less than the decrease in a second sensor value obtained by the at least one sensor of the external electronic device.

8. The electronic device according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the photocatalyst filter is automatically regenerated based on the controller's determination of the regeneration time.

9. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to increase the number of light-emitting elements to allow the light source to emit more light in the regeneration mode of the photocatalyst filter.

10. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to increase the intensity of the light-emitting element to allow the light source to emit more light in the regeneration mode of the photocatalyst filter.

11. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to change the light irradiation direction of the light source in the regeneration mode of the photocatalyst filter.

12. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to reverse the airflow direction of the blower fan in the regeneration mode of the photocatalyst filter.

13. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the photocatalyst filter comprises a plurality of separate sub-filters, and wherein the front and rear sections of the plurality of sub-filters are exchanged in a regeneration mode of the photocatalyst filter.

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